title: Narrative research methods in palliative care contexts: two case studies.
abstract: Narrative methods have played a minor role in research with dying patients to date, and deserve to be more widely understood. This article illustrates the utility and value of these methods through the narrative analysis of semi-structured interview data gathered in a series of interviews with two terminally ill cancer patients and their spouses. The methods and findings associated with these two case studies are outlined and discussed. The authors' contention is that an analytical focus on the naturalistic storytelling of patients and informal carers can throw new light on individuals' perceived illness states and symptoms, care-related needs, behaviors, and desires. In addition, the juxtaposition of two cases that share a number of markers of risk and need at the end of life illustrates how the narrative analysis of patients' experiential accounts can assist in uncovering important distinctions between cases that are of relevance to care management.
authors.affiliation: International Observatory on End of Life Care, Institute for Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom. c.thomas@lancaster.ac.uk
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reeve
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bingley
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lynch
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D033262:Narration; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*